The muscle strain that kept Spurs rookie Tiago Splitter out of the entire preseason likely will keep him on the sidelines for the team's regular season opener Tuesday.

Published 9:56 pm, Thursday, October 21, 2010

The muscle strain that kept Spurs rookie Tiago Splitter out of the entire preseason likely will keep him on the sidelines for the team's regular season opener Tuesday.

According to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich there is as much likelihood he, himself, will suit up against the Indiana Pacers as there is that Splitter will play.

Asked if it were possible Splitter would be ready for the game, Popovich responded sardonically.

"Sure, it's definitely in the realm of possibility," he said. "It's also possible I might play."

Then Popovich got serious.

"I'm not planning on Tiago for opening night," he said. "If he's going to be ready he's going to have to change my mind."

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Splitter, the 7-foot Brazilian center who last season led Spanish team Caja Laboral to the Spanish League championship, strained the plantaris muscle in his right calf in the Spurs' third training camp practice session. He began light running this week, but has yet to participate in a full practice session since suffering the injury.

He went through some shooting drills at the team's morning practice, impressing teammates who are as eager to see him on the court as are Spurs fans.

"Today was the first day I saw him get out there and shoot the ball," forward Antonio McDyess said. "He's got a nice little touch to him. He picks up on the plays very easy and very quick. That's very impressive, for a guy to come in and learn this system.

"I'm just as eager as the fans are, just to see what he has. He looks like a guy who can really play. It's going to be exciting for him to get on the court, and I can't wait for it to happen."

More changes: The Spurs trimmed their roster to 14 players, waiving center Marcus Cousin, a rookie from the University of Houston who had played well in five preseason games.

The club also waived guard-forward Kevin Palmer, signed the previous day. In all likelihood, Palmer - 6-6 from Texas A&M Corpus Christi - will be signed by the Austin Toros, the Spurs' D-League team. Under the D-League guidelines, NBA teams have initial D-League rights to players who have been on their roster before being waived.

Cousin averaged 5.2 points and 4.8 rebounds while playing an average of 15.8 minutes in the five preseason games in which he appeared.

"He had a great camp, did a good job," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's a real tough kid, he rebounds well, shoots the ball well. We just have enough fives (centers), and that's what he is.

"He did a good job and is a hard worker. He definitely can earn a spot someplace."